“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” So writes Dr. Seuss in Oh, The Places You’ll Go. On Read Across America Day, United Way volunteers have decided where to go to read this children’s classic: local child care centers and schools, to help build a nation of readers.

Action is needed now to ensure continuity in health coverage for low-income children and pregnant moms

In recent days, Congress has responded to requests from governors, providers, advocates, and families alike by introducing legislation and publishing a discussion draft to quickly extend funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). While CHIP exists in law through FY2019, funding for Chip will end September 31, 2015 unless Congress acts. If Congress fails to act now, upwards of 2 million children and pregnant mothers could lose their health insurance, and millions more could be shifted to plans with less appropriate benefits at higher costs to them as well as the taxpayer.

It’s the ultimate women’s fireside chat – inspiring, funny, informative and provocative. Listen in on a candid dialogue between two women who have been pioneers in civic life, work and United Way’s mission of community change.

Companies increasingly have organized volunteer programs to encourage their employees to volunteer in the community. We need more research that explores workplace volunteering, so United Way decided to contribute to a new study that takes a closer look at corporate volunteering programs and employee motivations for participating.

What do more than 80 United Ways and the 36th President of the United States have in common? A not-so-secret weapon for combating poverty: the AmeriCorps Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) program. President Lyndon B. Johnson initiated the VISTA program in 1965 as a domestic complement to the Peace Corps to combat poverty through national service. Since then, the program has recruited and mobilized 190,000 full-time, year-long volunteers to serve with organizations on capacity-building projects addressing poverty.